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Smashed Cauliflower “Potatoes” (3 Ways)

Smashed Cauliflower “Potatoes” (3 Ways)

I originally posted this recipe in 2009. Since then it’s received over 30,000 views. I would love to think that I’ve helped families embrace cauliflower and not be so dependent on potatoes for every meal. Don’t get me wrong. I love potatoes and believe they 

Sweet Potato Hash with Chorizo, Onion, and Asparagus

Sweet Potato Hash with Chorizo, Onion, and Asparagus

I have been aware of the term Whole30 for awhile. Someone I knew did a Whole30 challenge about a year ago and I could tell she lost weight. Recently, another friend on Facebook posted a picture after completing the challenge so I visited Whole30.com to 

Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Balsamic, and Dried Cherries

Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Balsamic, and Dried Cherries

Brussels sprouts weren’t on my radar. I don’t remember the first time I had them. I don’t remember my mom making them. My best guess is that I was at a restaurant that served them roasted. I was probably at a steak place with friends 

Pan-Seared Flat Iron Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Pan-Seared Flat Iron Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Flat iron steak is my new favorite steak for two main reasons. One, it tends to be a bit less expensive than flank steak. Two, it’s easy to cut into even portions which is perfect for entertaining. The other day I bought a 1.5 pound 

Simple Chimichurri Sauce

Simple Chimichurri Sauce

Chimichurri is a sauce or marinade for grilled meats and vegetables. The main ingredients are parsley, olive oil and a little acid. The sauce can very greatly from recipe to recipe. Personally, I don’t like too much vinegar or acid. Also, I don’t like it 

Brisket in Half the Time [Gas-Grilled and Oven-Finished]

Brisket in Half the Time [Gas-Grilled and Oven-Finished]

When you don’t have time (or a smoker) you can make brisket in half the time using a gas grill and finish it in the oven. For the last three years my husband and I have bought a half side of beef. It’s an amazing 

Classic Broccoli Salad with Bacon

Classic Broccoli Salad with Bacon

If you’ve been to a picnic or a church potluck then chances are you’ve seen Broccoli Salad. I often see Broccoli Salad for sale at stores in the deli section. What makes this recipe unique is bacon, dried cherries, and shelled pumpkin seeds. To the 

Summer Garden Vegetable Bolognese in a Slow Cooker

Summer Garden Vegetable Bolognese in a Slow Cooker

Whether you are enjoying the bountiful abundance of vegetables from the produce section of your grocery store, your local farmer’s market, or your own garden this is a delicious way to infuse more veggies in an otherwise traditional pasta sauce. Pasta used to be a 

Tuscan Lemon and Rosemary Spatchcock Chicken on a Gas Grill

Tuscan Lemon and Rosemary Spatchcock Chicken on a Gas Grill

I love to grill chicken as long as the temperature is warm enough. I plan on doing as much outdoor grilling as possible. Two of my favorite things about grilling: That open-flame flavor (especially if I add wood chips on the grill). A clean kitchen 

Cheeseburger Cauliflower Helper (Low-Carb Comfort Food)

Cheeseburger Cauliflower Helper (Low-Carb Comfort Food)

Raise your hand if you’ve had at least one box of “Hamburger Helper” in your lifetime. We all love those one pan meals! Now we can enjoy some nostalgia with a simple low-carb version and stay in ketosis. I’ve made this once a week for 

Gas-Grilled Chicken Thighs with an Asian Flair

Gas-Grilled Chicken Thighs with an Asian Flair

I thought I bought three packs of chicken breasts. But, no, turns out I bought boneless skinless chicken thighs. I must say that thighs are not my favorite. As a matter of fact, it’s only in the last couple of years that I’ve started liking 

The Famous Hummer Cocktail (Kahlua, Rum, and Vanilla Ice Cream)

The Famous Hummer Cocktail (Kahlua, Rum, and Vanilla Ice Cream)

If you want to put your summer dinner guests into a state of bliss, this dessert-type cocktail is the answer. I was introduced to “The Hummer” by the mixologist himself at the Bayview Yacht Club.  Back in the day, when my husband was working red-capet 

Bacon and Onion Relish (Perfect for a Burger Bar)

Bacon and Onion Relish (Perfect for a Burger Bar)

Recently, friends invited my husband and I to a dinner party where the theme was “burgers.”  Everyone was supposed to bring a burger condiment as well as a side dish or dessert.  I decided to bring a bacon and onion relish. It was a huge 

Tex-Mex Feast for a Crowd (Carnitas, Beans, Rice, and Fixings)

Tex-Mex Feast for a Crowd (Carnitas, Beans, Rice, and Fixings)

My husband and I love hosting big parties at least once a year. By big, I mean big. We hosted over 60 people on July 4th last year, and we counted 56 this year. We host other dinner parties throughout the year but this one 

Pan Pizza—Restaurant Style (Made at Home)

Pan Pizza—Restaurant Style (Made at Home)

The first time I had Pan Pizza—Restaurant Style at a friend’s house I begged shamelessly for the recipe. When I make this for guests they tell me it’s better than what they get at restaurants. You see, the “pizza lady’s” husband actually managed Pizza Huts 

Cheeseburger Salad

Cheeseburger Salad

If you are one of the many people making low-carb recipes a part of their lifestyle then this recipe might come in handy. I was able to transition from “needing” a bun to just putting the burger on a salad.  This is one of my 

Homemade Ranch Dressing (and Dip)

Homemade Ranch Dressing (and Dip)

I love the convenience of bottled salad dressings, but equally important is knowing exactly what all the ingredients are in those type of convenience foods. If I buy salad dressing from a store I prefer to buy the kind that needs to be refrigerated. The 

How to Cook Thick-Cut Pork Chops with Pan Sauce

How to Cook Thick-Cut Pork Chops with Pan Sauce

Thick bone-in pork chops start in the oven, sear in a pan to finish so they don’t get dried out, and are topped with a quick pan sauce.

Keftedes (Greek Meatballs)

Keftedes (Greek Meatballs)

This is one of my favorite tried and true recipes. I’ve been making this recipe for over 10 years and I’ve made it dozens and dozens of times. I make them just for my husband and me. I make them for guests and they love 

Tzatziki

Tzatziki

There are a boat load of recipes for tzatziki, I know.  I have been on a quest for the recipe that I remember from my youth. I grew up in the Metro-Detroit area and I enjoyed many dinners in Greek Town. Oh, the memories—fresh warm 

Spinach, Tomato, and Feta Frittata

Spinach, Tomato, and Feta Frittata

I have been on a major frittata kick lately. It seems that between leftovers and the staples I have in my my refrigerator I can make a frittata out of just about anything. The flavor combination of spinach, tomato, and feta makes for an especially 

Greek-Inspired Salad with Cannellini Beans, Red Onions, and Feta

Greek-Inspired Salad with Cannellini Beans, Red Onions, and Feta

I don’t know why I have waited so long to blog about this salad. My husband and I have enjoyed this salad for years. We serve it to company. You can serve it family-style, split between six bowls, or split between two bowls. Add some 

Egg Salad Lettuce Wraps

Egg Salad Lettuce Wraps

Lettuce leaves make a great vehicle for low carb meals and snacks. Recently, I was craving an egg salad sandwich, but I didn’t want to have the added carbs with this particular meal. I thought why not put it in a lettuce leaf. This seems 

Lentil and Vegetable Chili

Lentil and Vegetable Chili

I love making a big pot of chili for dinner. I have made chili with ground beef, chili with ground turkey, and chili with leftover roasted turkey. All of these variations are delicious. I crave them all from time to time. I couldn’t help but 

Deconstructed Gas-Grilled Chicken and Romain Caesar Salad

Deconstructed Gas-Grilled Chicken and Romain Caesar Salad

We love Caesar salad in our house. We make it often. So when we got our new Weber gas grill this summer the very first thing I made was a grilled chicken Caesar salad. By “grilled” I mean grilled chicken, grilled Romaine, grilled baguette slices, 

Braised Carnitas (Easily Adapted for a Crowd)

Braised Carnitas (Easily Adapted for a Crowd)

I’ve made “Pulled Pork” for sandwiches a few times. The spices that I use in that recipe are great for roasts and sandwiches, but not so much for Tex-Mex applications.  I love the pork served at Chipotle and wondered if I could even come close. 

Cilantro-Lime Rice

Cilantro-Lime Rice

In a quest to bring a Chipotle restaurant experience to a very large dinner party, I included “Cilantro-Lime Rice” on the menu.  I have a Chipotle restaurant near by from which my husband and I periodically enjoy tacos and salads. Someone at my party said 

Tex-Mex Beans From Scratch

Tex-Mex Beans From Scratch

Instead of opening several cans of “Baked Beans,”pouring them into a slow cooker and reheating them, (which I’ve done before for pot-luck parties) I wanted to make something from scratch. I was looking for bean recipe that was more savory than sweet, rich with the 

Salsa – Restaurant Style (Made at Home)

Salsa – Restaurant Style (Made at Home)

In full disclosure this is a semi-homemade salsa because this recipe uses canned tomatoes. Someday if I run across amazing tomatoes from a farmer’s market, or if I grow my own then I’ll make a 100% homemade version. That said, this salsa tastes so fresh 

Caesar Salad

Caesar Salad

This salad is a family favorite. We eat it all the time. My father-in-law recently stayed with us and when I asked him what some of his favorite “bites” were during his stay the first thing he said was “Caesar salad.” Wow. I was surprised…a 

Cinnamon Ice Cream

Cinnamon Ice Cream

Now here is a flavor ice cream that you don’t see in the store, “Cinnamon Ice Cream.” Well, I never have seen it. My husband and Father-in-Law like—no love—ice cream, and during my Father-in-Law’s recent stay I made ice cream not once but twice. I 

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

“I scream. You scream. We all scream for ice cream.” I don’t know how or where this chant started, but I can resonate with it even though I’m not a huge dessert person. I like them once in a while. I’m one of those people 

Shredded Chicken Tostadas on Home-Baked Flour Tortillas

Shredded Chicken Tostadas on Home-Baked Flour Tortillas

Fresh, light, and filling are words my husband used to describe one of our new favorite weeknight dinners. These tostadas are a great use of the “Mexican Shredded Chicken” from my previous post. Dinner can be on the table in 30 minutes. Using fresh salsa, 

Mexican Shredded Chicken in a Crock Pot

Mexican Shredded Chicken in a Crock Pot

Have you ever gone to the store and seen chicken on sale because the “sell by” date is in the next day or two? Or, maybe chicken is on sale “just because.” A few days ago I saw boneless, skinless chicken breasts on sale for 

Buffalo Wings – Restaurant Style (Made at Home)

Buffalo Wings – Restaurant Style (Made at Home)

I am a Buffalo Wing snob and this recipe is inspired by Outback’s Kookaburra Wings. I won’t go as far to call these a copycat. However, my husband and I agree they are so much better than wings we’ve had at many restaurants. We have 

Mom’s Oven-Roasted Barbecued Ribs

Mom’s Oven-Roasted Barbecued Ribs

Recently someone asked my husband who makes his favorite barbecued ribs. I was so proud when he said, “my mother-in-law.” My mom does make the best ribs. The ribs she makes are the bar by which I judge all other ribs. I grew up on 

Homemade Barbecue Sauce (Kinda-Sorta Like Open Pit Original)

Homemade Barbecue Sauce (Kinda-Sorta Like Open Pit Original)

What is the deal with not being able to get Open Pit west of the Mississippi? I’m not sure where the real shipping line stops, but I’m not the only one lamenting this foodie issue. For the last 7 years I’ve lived west of the 

Grated Zucchini Pancakes – 3 Ways

Grated Zucchini Pancakes – 3 Ways

When I find myself in an abundance of zucchini I turn to this Zucchini Frittata recipe or this dairy free Tomato and Zucchini Frittata. But, one day I wanted to do something different and I did have plenty of zucchini in the fridge. After a 

Baked Eggs (Individual Servings)

Baked Eggs (Individual Servings)

You know how when you are shopping for a new or used car, and you’ve got it narrowed down to a couple of makes and models, and then you start seeing those cars on the road everywhere? Have you ever had that experience with recipes? 

Cinnamon Tea (Iced or Hot)

Cinnamon Tea (Iced or Hot)

My husband and I had the privilege to vacation in Costa Rica a couple of months ago. One of many activities that we enjoyed was going to Rainforest Spices. Of all the things people can do on vacation you probably wouldn’t think that going to 

Fresh and Simple Guacamole

Fresh and Simple Guacamole

I have to confess that I’ve made this guacamole recipe a few times. The problem is that I’m usually whipping it up so fast I forget to take pictures of all the steps. Now, I think I have enough pictures to piece together for a 

Homemade Beef and Barley Soup

Homemade Beef and Barley Soup

After making Homemade Beef Stock I ended up with some leftover beef that was perfect for soup. I love it when my cravings go with what I have in the pantry: pearl barley, carrots, celery, onions, diced tomatoes, and homemade beef stock. Soup’s on! One 


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